Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Its no secret in my house....we hate maths! It seems that when maths comes up there always seems to be tears or tantrums! Okay, maybe not every time...but often enough that I get a headache just thinking about teaching it!
My eldest does seem to have a real aversion for maths...but I don't believe at all that its because she is not capable of understanding it, her problem is that she doesn't want to do the "thinking" part of maths. With maths there is a right answer and a wrong answer....there is no grey in-between. Its not like literacy where you can blag your way through and still come out with a nice piece of work! Maths requires actual thinking and working out to arrive at the correct answer! And I think it is this which we seem to struggle with in my house!

Up until now, I have left maths really - my eldest really wasn't mature enough at earlier points to understand why she has to do this, and we would just end up in tears. We've now got to the stage where we need to start picking it up, and so are going back to fill in the fundamental gaps she needs before we can progress.
So what we are trying to do, is dedicate a week (more if needed) to do mini crash-course's on particular areas of maths we need to catch up on.

First up on our list, is to solidify and memorise the number bonds to 10 inshaAllah! I printed off a few number bond worksheets from the internet and also came up with this fun number facts to 10 game pack, so we could learn them through play inshaAllah.
Maths games can be quite expensive, and to be honest, I know its not something which would be played forever.....so figured I could easily come up with my own games that the kids would love inshaAllah instead of spending a fortune on Amazon!

Everyone loves playing snap / match. So these sweet looking number cards do just that! We spread the cards face down on the floor and take turns to pick up 2 cards. If the numbers together make 10, then the player keeps and takes another turn, if they don't make 10 then they are returned to the floor.

This is a really neat game to help the kids memorisation of the number facts without realising. My 5 year old played with us, so she had the number fact poster to check her facts. She would select a card, and see what number she needs to match it (unlike my 7 year old who had to just work it out if she didn't instantly know it).

Another game is number bonds to 10 dominos! The idea is the number on the next connecting card must match together to make 10!

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I tried to think up of as many games as I could to practice the learning of the bonds to 10, and so came up with these 2 board games. I laminated them together so on each side is a game.

The first game Race for 10, uses the snap cards. The cards are in a pile face down, and each player takes turns to take a card. The idea is, a player will move their counter forward to the nearest number which matches the number on their card to make 10. So for example, if the card picked is a 3, then the player will move to the nearest 7, because 3 and 7 make 10!

The second game Bonds to 10, is a game for 2 players or 2 teams. By answering a question correctly, the counter moves forward. Incorrectly, and you stay where you are!

The process of playing different games really does help to memorise the facts pretty quickly Alhamdulillah, and its something which the younger children who have not yet started their number facts can even join in with and get a head start!

To go with the Printable math pack, I put together some number bond to 10 posters which can either be printed A4 or A5 size and stuck up on the wall. It is this poster on the bottom right corner above, which lists all the facts which I gave to my 5 year old to help her play the games.

Although I did use some printable worksheets I found online when we started our crash-course, I do think that what you can find is generally, pretty dull and boring! So as the grand finale, to put into practice and solidify understanding, I put together a few of my own worksheets to complete at the end.

I have to say, Alhamdulillah by the time my eldest was completing these, she had go the hang of it, and was able to instantly know the bonds off the top of her head!
Which proves my theory, that why spend weeks or even months when they are not ready trying to force them to learn something, when if given a little time to grow and mature, they can learn the same thing in a matter of days or even hours bi'ithnillah!

If this maths pack will help you in your homeschool / classroom, then I am pleased to say I am giving this one away Alhamdulillah! Download anumber bonds to 10 maths pack, with everything you see above and including matching number lines to 10 which can be used to help play the games, by clicking on the link {here} inshaAllah!

Let me know what you think and how your kids get on with it in the comments below inshaAllah!

Sunday, 2 February 2014

When starting to home school, it can be a pretty scary time albeit exciting! The great leap into the unknown! Rest assured, you will look back a year on at where you started, and will smile bi'ithnillah. Relax, be happy, and enjoy the adventure.A big thank you to all the sisters who took the time to complete and send back your questionnaires. This is the concluding post to our 6 part considering homeschool series. Here we find out what our homeschoolers have to advise those who are new to the game.If you missed any of the parts, you can go back and check them out inshaAllah.

What advise would you give someone new to homeschooling?

"be patient with yourself and your child. Learning doesn't only take place at a school desk."

Holly, USA

"Do not be overwhelmed by reading blogs and trying to compare. Spend more time in understanding your child."

Umm Maimoonah, Qatar

"there are many resources available now, kids learn in their way, so we can teach them in their way. there's no need to worry about the 'S' (socialization) issue, homeschooled children are more socialized in reality"

Umm Abdurahman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

"do not be discouraged, you will have good days, you will have bad days, put your trust in Allah. Don't try to do too much at once, take it easy and slow and inn shaa' Allah once a routine is established, it will get easier by the mercy of Allah"

Umm Maryam, Canada

"Take each day as it comes, إنشاءالله , it'll get easier and you get more confident . Trust yourself, Allah swt has made you a mother of this child, you will never fail your child thru choice!"Umm Yusuf, South Africa

"You can do it!"Umm Noor Zainab, UK""IQRA" read, read, read... about everything from education to time management, to Islam ...etc and anything that helps you provide for your children the best from everything or that can help you logistically, spiritually, emotionally achive that."Umm Abderrahman, Australia

"Trust you kids, and see where their interests take them. Let them play, experiment and explore"Umm Safiya, Denmark"Be sure to get to know like-minded families and other home-educators in your area. Your children will need to make new friends if they have left school, and all parents need the moral support from other parents. Local groups will provide opportunities for socialising and exchanging resources/ideas."Umm Hannah, UK"Be Patient - it can take a while to get into a comfortable routine."Anonymous, UK"Give yourself time to develop your family's unique style of home learning, know that you can change anything later if you need to. Make it fun, not just dry! DO lots of hands-on learning and outdoor explorations. "Umm Ibrahim, Canada"You don't suddenly have to prove to yourself/others that you made the right call, that your kid IS "learning". You don't have to feel compelled to test your kid for that purpose. Also, you'll know when they get something. And it's totally ok that they take their time getting it."Umm Shehrezad, UAE"Trust in Allah. Write down your reasons for homeschooling - these reasons may change as you progress, so you may want to keep on re-writing these regularly. Having on paper why you are homeschooling can help you during the more "difficult" times when you might need reminding! Take each day as it comes, don't compare yourself and your children to others. Enjoy your time with your kids and help them to be the best they can be bi'ithnillah! Give yourself time to become settled.....and don't worry....most of us have no idea what we are doing either (smile)"Umm Khadeeja, UK